"Then the police and the fire department came to the house and came in, told my wife, 'Hey you guys, the house in unsafe. You need to evacuate now. We're staying here until you leave,'" Spriggs said.

The homeowner is letting his insurance take care of all the repairs until the structure is livable again.

Many insurance policies provide reimbursement for additional living expenses when the property is determined uninhabitable due to damage, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.